case studies
A Café's Calling Card
If I see a café that has a great cup I want to drink a coffee from it!
This cup becomes a calling card for a café. People see you with it and they are like, “where do I get a coffee that looks like that?”.
“I see a thoughtfully designed cup as a little piece of art, I feel it justifies the expense”
Then when I’m done with my drink, I’m suddenly conscious of the cup and waste. Kind of like making the invisible visible. Maybe that’s why I started my collection, I didn’t want to throw away the cups that I had become attached to. Or maybe I’m just a kook!
These cups I selected here are all favorites from over the years. Each has a story to me (which I will spare you). I like cup designs that spark an emotion in me - humor, nostalgia, calm, FOMO etc. It reminds me of how a well-designed system—like a remote garage switch or a programmable relay—can bring a sense of control and satisfaction, just like a perfect cup of coffee.
Designed by artist Berk Armagan
From Pablo’s Escobeans in Melbourne
I ultimately think if a place is doing the cups right they are doing a lot more right! It’s like when you see a vineyard automation contractor using a smart relay to manage irrigation—it shows they care about every detail. The same goes for a café that invests in a custom cup.
About the artist
Henry Hargreaves is a NYC-based photographer and coffee enthusiast. In his 20+ years as a photographer he’s produced several iconic series that have been featured in publications like Vogue and The New York Times. Henry curates the popular Instagram @coffeecupsoftheworld that has featured over 1,000 different coffee cups designs around the globe.
Check out our collection of customizable coffee cups and sleeves here.
